http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20070320TDY04005.htm The Yomiuri Shimbun March 20, 2007 An ongoing criminal case that indicates China is seeking to acquire Japanese high technology is probably just the tip of the iceberg. A Chinese engineer working for leading auto parts manufacturer Denso Corp. has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement for allegedly downloading information from the company's database into a personal computer provided by the firm for company use and removing the PC from the company premises. The engineer is alleged to have downloaded about 130,000 blueprints for items including an industrial robot and a diesel fuel injection pump. The downloaded data cover about 1,700 products, of which 280 were categorized as classified. The engineer downloaded most of the data in the latter half of last year. Since October, he has traveled to China three times. He destroyed his own PC's hard disk in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. This suspicious behavior indicates he has already leaked classified information to China. -=- National interest at risk Denso enjoys a high global reputation for its technologies and products. The downloaded blueprints are for commercial products, but they could be converted to build military hardware. Vast amounts of such data may already have been passed to China. The case must be thoroughly investigated to determine whether the data was stolen for commercial or military purposes. Denso's data management clearly was lax. The issue is not the losses incurred by one company, but whether Japan's national interests were damaged. Before coming to Japan, the Chinese engineer worked for a state-run military company that manufactures missiles and other products. He serves as deputy chairman of an association of auto engineers in Japan whose members include Chinese nationals. We wonder why a foreigner with such a background was assigned to a section where important information was accessible. -=- Anti-espionage laws lacking At a time when economic activities between Japan and China are intensifying, Yamaha Motor Co. has been charged with illegally exporting unmanned helicopters to China. The National Police Agency believes China is trying to obtain various advanced technologies and related information in Japan. Following a series of revisions, the maximum penalty for leaking corporate secrets stipulated in the Unfair Competition Prevention Law has been increased to 10 years in prison--in line with punitive provisions in the U.S. Economic Espionage Act. The Penal Code stipulates a maximum penalty of five years in prison for embezzlement. The police reportedly also plan to establish a case under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law as it provides for a heavier punishment. Though there are some controls on spying under the Unfair Competition Prevention Law, some government officials have pointed out that no legislation has been established to deal comprehensively with espionage activities. The issue is not limited to confidential data in the private sector. The government must quickly come up with ways to prevent foreign spies obtaining defense and diplomatic secrets. Management of important information and employment of foreign engineers and researchers are not issues that can be left to the private sector alone. _________________________________________ Visit the InfoSec News Security Bookstore http://www.shopinfosecnews.org
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